Plate 1. The Departure of the Joads This egg tempera and oil painting was created by Missouri artist Thomas Hart Benton in 1940. The art was commissioned by 20th Century Fox to advertise their film production of John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath. The rugged depiction of form is typical of Benton’s unique regional…
The George Kieffer Murals of the Fox Theatre by Joshua Heston In the old Fox Theatre — the Abundant Life Covenant Church since 1985 — on the Springfield Square, a series of murals celebrating the history of Springfield, Missouri, are displayed. The murals are the work of George Kieffer and each demonstrate his craftsmanship, his…
HUSH by Kim Danzer (art by Josh Heston) Hush sweet baby, don’t ask why?…Fish are floating as birds fall from the sky. The starfish are leaving as well as the bees…But at least we have wars and reality TV. God is now Google …So get down on your knees…And Post it on Facebook as soon…
Hey There, Grandpa by Josh Huxtable (art by Heath Copper) Hey there grandpa, can I sit and talk? You use to tell me stories, that I’ve never forgot. You’d tell me about your war days. How it was hell on earth. You’d say it’d try a man to his core. But it’d reveal his worth.…
I Am by Kristina Gilbert (art by James Shipley) I am….. A Daughter, Sister, Cousin, Niece Wife, Mother, Granny, Aunt A Friend and Foe, Honest and True Quitter, Joiner, Cautious, Safe Reckless, Smart, Sad and Abused Needed, Cared for, Naïve and Used I am a Lover I am a Creator I am Beautiful I was……
The Other by Trygve Arneson (art by Savannah Crawford) My name is Timeran, my mom had made it up by adding ‘eran’ to her favorite name, Tim. I really dislike summer camping. Heat and humidity, bugs that bite or sting, bugs that bite or sting while hunting other biting stinging bugs. Insects that carry every…
Cognizance by Ti’ana Sage (art by Kaitlynn Robinson) My mind was racing from what I was facing— —tripping—slipping—as I flew through the night… If I’d only known—If I’d only been shown— —a breath of relief as the city came into clear sight… As I burst passed the droid in my escape from the void— —my…
The Dust by Deborah Haggard (art by Savannah Richardson) Perhaps you now live in a different world that I can’t reach because it’s a speck of dust. Maybe that’s what my world is too. A little piece of dust that you don’t exist in any longer. Maybe the universe is just made up of dust…
A Modern Marvel by Matthew S. Farmer (art by Jenny Judlin) A spectacle of man’s engineering Concrete, Cables, towering high we pledge our faith we pledge our trust we bring our family we bring our future A young couple drives across in their yellow car looking for lunch on the other side A single mother…
Allegiances by Lisa Livingston-Martin (art by Lacey Finchum) “Federal riders!” Willie yelled as he came through the back door, stopping in the hallway, hands on his knees, gulping air. Elizabeth looked at William and he nodded. Neither questioned whether their seven-year-old grandson was mistaken. Elizabeth turned to Elvira, “You take the children and hide.” Elvira…